Wearable Device Could Monitor Opioid Use in Real Time

Subjects wore the device before, during and after opioid administration

A wearable biosensor has been shown to detect consistent physiological patterns after opioid administration, which could eventually provide a new method of opioid monitoring.

The researchers enrolled 30 subjects who presented at an emergency department (ED) with a pain related complaint. Enrollment took place over 4 months. Each subject wore the Q biosensor (Affectiva) – a 4x5cm sensor secured with a Velcro band – before, during and after opioid analgesic administration.

Patients were divided into heavy-users – those with chronic daily opioid use – and non-heavy users. Locomotive, skin temperature and electrodermal activity was all monitored.

Between the two categories of users, heavy users had a greater relative decrease in small movements immediately after opioid administration. However, there were no significant differences between both groups for skin temperature and electrodermal activity.

Stephanie Carreiro, Professor at the University of Massachusetts and lead author of the study, said, “The patterns may be useful to detect episodes of opioid use in real time,” and that this ability could help manage pain during treatment.

“Further study is needed to evaluate the potential diagnostic and interventional applications of these devices in drug abuse treatment and pain management,” concludes the study.